An article transfer system including: a transfer device that transfers an article in one direction; a travel distance detecting unit that sequentially detects a distance the article transferred by the transfer device has traveled; an article sensing unit that senses passage of the article transferred by the transfer device; an image capturing unit that photographs the article, the image capturing unit being disposed downstream of the article sensing unit in a transfer direction of the transfer device; a position-and-orientation detecting unit that processes an image captured with the image capturing unit to extract the article and detect a position and an orientation of the article; and a removal unit that removes the article, which has been sensed with the article sensing unit but not extracted by the process performed in the position-and-orientation detecting unit, from the transfer device, the removal unit being disposed downstream of the image capturing unit.

The invention relates to device, method and packaging facility having a transport section (17) for feeding article arrangements (5) in a transport direction (TR) to a packaging module (18). The transport section (17) comprises a transfer plate (15), on which the articles (2) of the article arrangements (5) are movable in a sliding manner. Located above the transfer plate (15) are pushing devices (16) for moving the articles (2) on the transfer plate (15), with the pushing devices (16) being movable in transport direction (TR) at least in some areas. The transport section (17) furthermore comprises outer guide elements (20) and inner guide elements (21) disposed on the transfer plate (15), with the outer guide elements (20) laterally delimiting the transport section (17) and, with the inner guide elements (21) being readjustable by at least one readjustment mechanism that is disposed at least partly below the transfer plate (15).

An object is to provide a conveyor that enables the number of information read-out devices to be largely reduced and that can be easily constructed. An object identifying device (45) is installed in the first zone. The object identifying device (45) is a bar code reader. Information read by the bar code reader is transmitted to a host control device (46). The host control device (46) identifies an object from information described in a bar code, makes an inquiry about a conveyance destination of an object, transmits the address of the target place to a zone controller (10) of the second zone, and inputs the address to a conveyance destination storage unit of the zone controller (10) of the second zone. The conveyance destination information input to the conveyance destination storage unit is passed on to the downstream zone controller (10) with the conveyance of the object.

Singulation system may utilize various features to singulate items, e.g., which may be different sizes from one another. For example, a conveyor may advance items along the length of the conveyor, and paddles arranged for protruding over respective portions of the conveyor may be selectively positionable based on conditions (such as a size or a jammed state) of items detected as present on a relevant part of the conveyor. Additionally or alternatively, a first conveyor may advance items at a first speed and in a first direction to sequentially drop the items onto a second conveyor positioned below the first conveyor, and the second conveyor may advance the received items at a second speed higher than the first speed and in a second direction different from the first direction, e.g., to increase space between items.

A system to deliver a cargo using a railway, such as a subway or a national railway, rather than ground transportation. A cargo loading/unloading unit is provided on a platform of a railway station. The cargo loading/unloading unit is configured to load and unload cargoes is provided inside a railway vehicle, such that a large quantity of cargo can be quickly loaded and unloaded while the railway vehicle is stopped at the station. The cargo delivery capacity can also be adjusted, thereby enabling a large quantity of the cargo to be delivered more quickly and conveniently.

A system to deliver a cargo using a railway, such as a subway or a national railway, rather than ground transportation. A cargo loading/unloading unit is provided on a platform of a railway station. The cargo loading/unloading unit is configured to load and unload cargoes is provided inside a railway vehicle, such that a large quantity of cargo can be quickly loaded and unloaded while the railway vehicle is stopped at the station. The cargo delivery capacity can also be adjusted, thereby enabling a large quantity of the cargo to be delivered more quickly and conveniently.

A sorting conveyor system comprising a primary conveyor extending along a conveying plane and configured with an item loading location and a plurality of unloading locations extending along the conveying plane, and at least one sorting bridge configured with an item sorting mechanism. The item sorting mechanism is configurable for displacing in four distinct orientations, wherein the first displacement orientation is associated with displacing the item sorting mechanism along the conveying plane. The second displacement orientation is associated with controlling passages of an item through the sorting bridge, the third displacement orientation is associated with controlled unloading of an item at an unloading location, the fourth displacement orientation is associated with controlling an impact angle of the item sorting mechanism with an item.

A firewood handling device for firewood pieces comprises a conveyor including one or more rotating, endless chains, wherein the conveyor extends from an input end to an output end. The conveyor chains are provided with carriers which project outwards from the outer sides of the chains and extend across and on a distance from each other in relation to the longitudinal extension of the conveyor such that spaces are formed between the carriers into which firewood pieces can be positioned. The carriers are formed with at least two, not cut through slots or recesses from below as well as from above which overlap each other. The conveyor in its output end is provided with at least two inner guiding members as well as with at least two outer guiding members.

A crop cart loading system for loading a crop. The crop cart loading system generally includes a hopper having a floor and a sidewall extending from the floor to an upper edge thereof. The sidewall defines a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an interior space for accommodating a crop. A conveyor is mounted to the hopper and configured to receive a crop at one of the first and second ends, and to longitudinally translate the crop above the floor toward the other of the first and second ends.

A sortation conveyor has an endless apron supported for longitudinal movement on an elongate frame that includes a pair of lateral side frames. An induction conveyor deposits articles on an offset lateral portion of a top conveying run of the apron. A pin guide assembly is coupled between the pair of lateral side frames and is upwardly presented to selectively receive the pin of pushers that laterally move across the apron. An upstream pre-sort section thereof positions articles from the offset lateral portion to an opposite lateral portion of the top conveying run. A downstream divert section of the pin guide assembly selectively diverts the articles to a divert target on the corresponding lateral side to the selected one of offset lateral position and the opposite lateral position.